From a Wilderness: The Building of America

Boynton Beach author James D. Cary has written a noble book, almost a love letter to the United States. His latest novel, "From a Wilderness: The Building of America," is actually four novels in one, each tracing a different era in our nation's history. The first is titled, In the "Beginning Jamestown;" the second is "And Then Came the Puritan;" the third is "The Fires of Mammon" (covering the American Revolution: and finally, the fourth is "Empire."

"Jamestown" begins when one of the characters, Jonathan Strong, witnesses a young Pocahontas playing with children of the settlers. The second book, "And Then Came the Puritan," shifts to Virginia where newcomers from Europe must battle both the climate and the culture created by the Puritans. In this book, the author has added interesting subtext. While ostensibly a narrative of our country's early years, Mr. Cary also demonstrates how the character of those early Puritans impacted our national character — an influence still felt today.

The third, "The Fires of Mammon," takes place in Pennsylvania and depicts the drama, the bloodshed, the high price Americans paid to obtain our freedom from British tyranny. Again, Mr. Cary adds complexity and texture by showing us how and why our American economy developed along capitalistic lines as well as pointing out Adam Smith's influence. The fourth, "Empire," focuses on the Louisiana Purchase told through the lives of twin brothers caught up in the atmosphere of conspiracy

and intrigue surrounding

the negotiations and the signing of the Treaty transactions in which Louisiana passed from Spanish control to French and then, 20 days later, in December 1803, to the United States.

Mr. Cary has humanized our history, transforming it into a readable novel—all the more exciting because although the characters are fictional, the novel is based on fact. Truth, while strange than fiction, is seldom as readable. Mr. Cary has woven the two into a compelling read. This is a book to be savored — and given the historical presidential election we've just witnessed, "From a Wilderness" is both timely and relevant.

Reviewer's note: This is a self-published book, which I seldom review. In this instance, I was impressed by Mr. Cary's background as a newsman — for 35 years. He covered the White House, the State Department and was assigned at various times to Asia, Africa, and Europe.